Humane Society

Cats Adult domestic shorthair, male, orange, found on Fairground Avenue in Hagerstown Adult DSH, female, black, found on Frederick Street in Hagerstown Adult DSH, male, gray and black, found on Maugansville Road in Hagerstown   Dog Young beagle mix, male, black and brown, found on Reiff Church Road in Hagerstown For more information about these animals, call the Humane Society of Washington County at 301-733-2060....

The Humane Society of Washington County introduced a new executive director last week and, in so doing, acknowledged that the agency might be in need of some new directions. Michael Lausen, former operations manager of the Humane Society of El Paso, Texas, will replace Paul Miller, who departed in November for unexplained reasons. Two of Lausen's stated priorities involve policies that many in the community believed received short shrift under Miller's leadership: animal placement and financial transparency.

On the evening of Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013, Berneita Myrtle Rice Moore, went to be with her Lord and Savior.  Born on Aug. 20, 1928, in Franklin County, Pa., she was the daughter of Harvey Ernest and Myrtle Jane Bingaman Rice, who preceded her in death.  Mrs. Moore was proud to have been married for 59 years to the late Rev. Paul W. Moore Sr. Besides brothers and sisters, Mrs. Moore is survived by children, Paul Moore Jr. of Elks Springs, Colo.,...

The new executive director of the Humane Society of Washington County said Tuesday that he wants to draw on his experience to find homes for unwanted animals. Michael Lausen, who has served as operations manager at the Humane Society of El Paso in Texas, said he intends to draft volunteers to foster stray cats and dogs until they can find a permanent place to live. “I'm a big proponent of foster families,” he said. “We have limited bed space, and that's where foster families come in.” The 43-year-old Lausen replaces Paul Miller, who left the job on Nov. 13, 2012.

Jacob “Jake” Joseph Nave, age 74, Hagerstown, Md., died peacefully at his home on Jan. 9, 2013. Born Sept. 22, 1938, in Hagerstown, he was preceded in death by his father, Jacob Albertus “Red” Nave, and mother, Frieda Constance (Nave) Gluck. He is survived by daughters, Teresa Burkhart, Diana Nave and Kathy Shoemaker, all of Hagerstown; one brother, Richard Nave; and one sister, Virginia Kinter, both from Hagerstown. He had seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and his fiancé of 29 years, Patricia Saunders, Hagerstown.

The 2013 Polar Bear Plunge generated more than $11,000 for the Humane Society of Washington County, officials announced Tuesday. The event, which is held in cooperation with the Town of Williamsport, attracted 369 people who took a quick dip in the Potomac River on New Year's Day at the town's River Bottom Park. “It seemed compassion was the operative word for the first day of the New Year with so many dedicated polar bears, spectators and supporters raising over $11,000 for the shelter,” Humane Society president Shannon Cianelli said in a news release.

About 400 people rushed into the Potomac River for the Polar Bear Plunge in Williamsport on Tuesday and then rushed back out, shrieking and shivering. Though dripping wet in a white polar bear costume, Dusty Hancock of Hagerstown, was still smiling. “Actually, I'm feeling better now - I'm numb,” Hancock said. The river water temperature  at snow-covered River Bottom Park was about 33 degrees. The air temperature was a little warmer. Hancock said he and his wife, Torri, who dressed as an Eskimo for the annual New Year's Day rite, wanted to do something for the New Year, so they decided to join in the revelry at the boat ramp.